i don't think bill clinton was against gay marriage in 1996. it was an election year. he knew if he vetoed it and said i believe in equality for all citizens, there was a good chance bob dole could have beaten him. sometimes taking the mean route not caring about the little guy serves the greater good. i think we see politicians doing this all the time in the democratic party. while i would have liked to see barack obama show up and fight for the unions, i understand why he didn't. is that a fair defense of the president? >> a fair defense that he is putting politics and his reelection over being a strong leader? i think that that is a defense that continues to be used for a lot of politicians and i think personality that it's bull . >> no worries at all. here's the flip side of that argument. what if barack obama comes to the defense of the unions and the right wing hate machine uses that to smear him. >> what are they going to smear him with that he stood up for teachers? why would that necessarily. >> it didn't help him in wisconsin. bill clinton came to the defense